(Asiad) Organizing committee apologizes for playing N. Korean anthem at S. Korean hockey match

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organizing committee has expressed regret for playing the North Korean anthem during a South Korean hockey match, according to the South Korean sports governing body. On Friday, before the men's Pool A game against Bangladesh at Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Gifu, Japan, the wrong anthem was played.

Following the mistake, the match organizers proceeded to play Bangladesh's anthem before resuming the correct South Korean anthem. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) promptly lodged a formal complaint with the organizing committee, requesting a sincere apology and measures to prevent such an error from happening again. Two Asian Games committee officials visited the South Korean team office that evening to apologize for the oversight.

KSOC President Ryu Seung-min emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that it is completely intolerable for the national anthem, a symbol of the country, to be played incorrectly at an international multi-sport event. The KSOC is committed to ensuring South Korean athletes can concentrate solely on their competitions, free from distractions unrelated to the games.

The organizing committee has promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take necessary steps to avert any future recurrence of this unacceptable incident.